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4 Interesting Jaunts in the East Valley

KR — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:57:19 +0000

4 Fabulous Outings in the East Valley… You want to see something different. You want to take full advantage of where you are. Here are some unique ways to spend your time in the East Valley.

Visit Greenday in Indio. This is where 100% post consumer glass blends with cement to produce a sustainable building and moulding material. Check out designs, everything from gargoyles to picnic benches. Then order up. You’ll feel your carbon footprint start to shrink.
Greenday LLC
43180 Sunburst St.
Indio, CA 92201
949.637.3674

Start your Big Year! We love this place! Enjoy some relaxing time at the wetlands at the Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center in Indio! Its primary mission is to rehab and release wild birds. The wetlands provide a natural area in addition to other treatment ponds and nearby open lands where nature can be observed, studied and enjoyed. There are bird watching blinds, towers and benches for your enjoyment. And remember, even a small donation goes a long way.
Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center
46500 Van Buren
Indio, CA 92201
760.347.2647

If he knew about it, Chapala Market could be in Quentin Tarantino’s next film. Not only is this an authentic Mexican market, but it’s got some of the most incredible Mexican food in the valley. The gals behind the counter know their stuff. Spanish will serve you well. Don’t expect to eat in, the dining area is teeny tiny. But for takeout Mexican, you’ll find nothing better.
Chapala Market
66351 Harrison St.
Thermal, CA 92274
760.397.4447

Forget Val Kilmer for the near future and reinterpret the Salton Sea at the new Salton Sea History Museum. The museum “spotlights the physical, cultural and natural history of the Salton Sea and surrounding areas. In addition they promote available options for restoration of the historic Salton Sea that ultimately maintains both the lake and salinity levels.” This is a unique, new attraction to the area. Plus, the reproductions of the famous Salton Sea ashtray made possible by the Palm Springs Modern Committee are retro great.
The Salton Sea History Museum & Visitor Center
72120 S. Lincoln St. (end of road across creek)
Mecca, CA 92254
760.393.9222
www.saltonseamuseum.org

Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert

KR — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:46:38 +0000

Art, Culture and a Spectacular Sculpture Garden… There isn’t enough picture space to capture the beauty and creativity of The Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert. Granted, we’ve been fans of the Palm Springs Art Museum since our first visit years ago, so we had high expectations of the Palm Desert branch. To say the least, we weren’t disappointed. To say the most, our jaws dropped. The museum resides between two of the valley’s best restaurants, the French Cuistot and the Italian La Spiga. The Cuistot patio actually looks out onto the Faye Sarkowsky sculpture garden, which is by far one of the most creative and beautiful uses of desert space we’ve seen, right in the middle of the bustling city.

The museum, like its sister in Palm Springs, is filled with marvelous collections, some from the private collections of desert residents, which are viewed nowhere else in the world. From classic sculpture to contemporary art using light and media, the museum boasts a unique, wide-ranging microcosm of talent within its light, airy space. With admission at $5, think of combining your visit to the museum with lunch at Cuistot. Just check Cuistot’s lunch hours as they tend to change in and out of season. If you make it a group experience, La Spiga will open for lunch for groups of 40 or more. Just give them a call.

Now back to the sculpture garden… Frankly, it’s a little mindblowing to think that this garden sits about 50 feet from the busy Highway 111. The attention to detail is exquisite, including the blue iridescent tile crushed into the walkways to give the feel of a stream glinting in the sun. Currently, signs mark the future homes of sculpture, which will only enhance the rocks, waterfalls and gorgeous array of desert plants which makes the garden environmentally-friendly, calm, serene and lovely.

Pedestrians walking by may also enjoy the sculpture garden. Take time out, relax and enjoy the many wonders that the garden offers, then meander up to the Museum and get a little culture from this pocket of nirvana in the heart of the Coachella Valley.

The Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert is an exhilarating addition where the El Paseo and Highway 111 meet. With proximity to the El Paseo shopping district and neighboring some of the top restaurants in the valley, it becomes an important lynchpin of culture and enjoyment. Make sure to inquire about the “Friends of Palm Desert” membership launch campaign and come to the opening on March 31!

The Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert
72-567 Highway 111
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Located at Entrada del Paseo at the westernmost intersection of Highway 111 and El Paseo
760-346-5600

Roc’s Firehouse Grill at the Cantina at the Eldorado Polo Club

KR — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:15:18 +0000

Polo anyone? The Cantina at Eldorado Polo Club has been taken over by Roc’s Firehouse Grill. Redesigned with fantastic service and unbeatable views, the Cantina is a “unique, must stop” restaurant and attraction in the East Valley.

The inside tables, banquettes and wood sports bar provide a cozy tavern feel, in stark contrast to the wide open spaces that surround it. With polo memorabilia on the walls, it’s obviously a place to kick back, relax and watch some sports inside or some chukkers outside. The service is quick and excellent, with a comfort food menu. The Fire Marshall sandwich is recommended, along with the best homemade potato chips we’ve tasted in quite some time.

You can also eat on the patio where you have a field side seat during the polo matches. However, be on guard to duck if a player sends a ball in your direction. The action is intense and, at times, within feet of your dining, making it all the more exciting!

This is an incredible place to spend the weekend meals. The views are unlike anywhere else in the entire country, spanning from Mt. San Jacinto in the West all the way to the tip of the Chocolate Mountains to the South.

So treat yourself to a unique lunch at the Roc’s Firehouse Grill at the Cantina at the Eldorado Polo Club. It will not disappoint.

Roc’s Firehouse Grill at Eldorado Polo Club
50950 Madison Street
Indio, CA 92201
760.775.3336

Copley’s on Palm Canyon

KR — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:59:34 +0000

Romantic, eco-friendly innovation… Copley’s Restaurant in Palm Springs is unlike most other top restaurants in Palm Springs because of its venue. Nestled in a garden setting right on Palm Canyon Drive, (which happens to be the former 1940s guest house of actor Cary Grant) Copley’s Restaurant offers a stunning patio under the whispers of a lush tree and the dark of the star-lit night sky. Inside, earth tones set off by rich woods create a simple, elegant relaxation; perfect for tasting the tiniest elements in any glass of wine.

The newest addition from owners Andrew and Juliana Manion Copley and Greg Butterfield, is an outdoor wood-burning oven which is the centerpiece of a gorgeous, private dining area. Reminiscent of the outdoor dining table at Ian Fleming’s Goldeneye in Jamaica, the soft glow of the lights invites diners to experience the best in cuisine while taking in the evening desert air.

Made of imported Italian clay, this eco-friendly oven is not a pizza oven. Pizza ovens must be continually heated. This oven is heated only before cooking. The wood provides a moist, succulent heat to the dishes, and the ability to cook several items at once at varying degrees in the oven by moving the wood to different places inside its cook space.

The Oven Debut Menu includes some remarkable delights. The oven braised prime beef shortribs are the best we’ve had in the Coachella Valley. The sides of roasted asparagus, butternut squash and baby arugula salad perfectly complement the shortribs. Finally the dessert of bread pudding with house-made coffee ice cream completes the elegant menu.

Copley’s Restaurant continues to be the innovator in the Coachella Valley’s top restaurants. Romantic and historical in its venue, exceptional in its cuisine, daring and eco-friendly in its creation of a new outdoor dining area featuring the Italian wood-burning oven, Copley’s Restaurant is not to be missed.

Copley’s Restaurant
621 N Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.327.9555
www.copleyspalmsprings.com

2012 Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival

KR — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:21:40 +0000

Opening Night Lights! The opening night of the 2012 Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival was fantastic! Make sure to get out to Indio for the incredible shows, like Le Ann Rimes this evening and Hot Chelle Rae next Saturday, and enjoy all the rides, entertainment and food throughout the week!

Begin with a lemonade from the numerous large lemon stands throughout the festival, a harkening back to the fruit shaped stands in the central valley in 1950s California. Then grab some entertainment at the Nightly Musical Pageant at the Pageant Stage!

And then hit the midway! Oh the rides! Dominate the track on Pole Position, dare gravity on Evolution, spin to the sky on Sky Diver, or enjoy zipping on the Zipper. There are rides for the daredevils to the kiddies, and plenty of carnival games to win that coveted oversized stuffed monkey or rasta penguin!

Add in the animal, agricultural, and art exhibits and you have plenty of adventures which will challenge your mind and body should you choose to partake. The woodworkers are particularly fun to watch and will answer any question you have with incredible enthusiasm. We can’t wait to return during the day to see these exhibits!

Finally, end your evening with an Icee, simply because the design of the Icee shacks are incredible. The neon-lit straw is the perfect cap on a fun, action-filled evening with every type of entertainment under the sun… or stars….

2012 Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival
82-503 Highway 111
Indio, CA 92201
www.datefest.org

Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill

KR — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:18:13 +0000

Private and unassuming, Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill is yours to discover. Handcrafting Palm Springs’ only traditional Mexican cuisine, Rio Azul serves up a mouthwateringly unique menu enhanced by its comfortable and cheerful, earth toned atmosphere.

We began with Azul Margaritas and Chiles Gueritos which are yellow peppers stuffed with sauteed shrimp, garlic, onions, tomatoes and cilantro served with a creamy, light soy sauce. It was the perfect size and flavor, with a generous portion of shrimp, which brings me to…

The entrees! You must try the Enchiladas del mar; crab meat and sauteed shrimp meet bell peppers, onions and tomatoes, rolled in flour tortillas, and topped with homemade cream sauce and cotija cheese. This is the standout dish of its kind in the valley. We also recommend the Parrilladas for any number of people. Parrilladas are a Mexican tradition which include marinated cuts of meat such as grilled shrimp, wrapped shrimp stuffed with jalapeno and jack cheese, delicious quail, grilled chicken and steak with vegetables. Add sides of fresh guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, Rio Azul’s four cheese blend chili con queso and refried pinto or black beans, and you’ve got an exclusive, original dinner.

Lucky for us, Rio Azul is now serving breakfast from 11 AM on Saturday and Sunday. Everything on the breakfast menu is $9.95 and you can down a House Margarita for $5 from 11 AM to 5 PM. The Huevos Rancheros is on the mark with soft corn tortillas topped with refried beans, eggs, cheese and ranchera sauce. We’re looking forward to trying the Machaca con Huevo which is shredded beef mixed with eggs, bell peppers, onions and tomatoes.

However you cut it, Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill has you covered, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Fresh, special, a small gem on Indian Canyon. It is the best Mexican restaurant in the West Valley.

Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill
350 S. Indian Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.992.5643
www.rioazulpalmsprings.com

Trio

KR — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:07:51 +0000

Second Season Opener… Striking a pose at the gateway to Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District, Trio Restaurant welcomes its second season with stunning modern design, relaxed atmosphere, meticulous service, and the best American modern food in Palm Springs, if not the whole Coachella Valley.

Trio to us, is a most unique restaurant. It does what no other valley restaurant does. It straddles the line between the West and the East Valley, attracting diners from as far out as La Quinta and Indio. You’ll find everyone from Palm Springs’ hottest designers to Thermal’s dressage and hunter riders to international clientele coming in for a twilight meal. Baby, this place is worth the trip.

Operating partner Tony Marchese and Executive Chef/co-owner Mark Van Laanen have infused incredible elements to create a total experience. Everything from the generous Happy Hour choices, the often changed exquisite menus, the frequent diner rewards, and the cosmopolitan, yet laidback atmosphere contribute to its ability to satisfy the discerning masses. All that before even talking about the eats and drinks…

The bar is fantastic. The wine list is international with different colors and flavors from the Pacific Rim to Europe to South America to Napa. Beers include locals, like Orange Wheat from Hangar 24 Crafted Brewery in Redlands, CA, and Green Flash India Pale Ale from the West Coast I.P.A. The specialty cocktail not to be missed is “Aime’s Black Widow” comprised of Grey Goose, vanilla vodka, lemon juice, Agave and Chambord.

The cuisine is nothing short of compelling comfort food. Typically not two words that are used together in a cuisine description, but this is no ordinary menu. Start with hand cut potato chips and home made ranch dip, fried artichoke hearts w/ caper aioli dipping sauce, or the delicate roasted baby beet salad. For entrees, the Australian sole is to die for; oven roasted with parsley, capers, lemon zest, bread crumbs and butter, and topped with Israeli couscous. Also recommended are the St. Louis Style Spare Ribs, chipotle-rubbed with house made BBQ sauce, complemented by sweet potato fries and slaw. Two sides not to be missed are the sour cream mash and the mac n cheese. Desserts complete the perfect meal. Peanut butter pie, a Southern specialty, rocks the world. The hot brownie sundae takes full advantage of its house made brownie, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Whenever possible, Trio serves sustainable/organic seafood, all natural/organic meats and seasonal local produce. They also offer vegetarian selections and gluten-free options. Plus, there is take-out service available, and a fabulous frequent diners’ rewards club. Any which way you look at it, you’re covered.

Trio Restaurant
707 N. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-864-8746
www.triopalmsprings.com

Kaiser Grille

KR — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:35:53 +0000

The Re-Opening of a Favorite… Kaiser Grill has re-opened and it is spectacular! Gorgeous mid-century modern design combines with a sleek combination of American, French and Italian cuisines to create an unforgettable dining experience.

Offering breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner as of October 3, Kaiser Grill will be busy as ever. With luscious breakfast and brunch fare like three egg omelets, eggs benedicts, and Belgian waffles, it’s destined to become one of the valley’s best chic breakfast venues. Kaiser Grill will also offer a special pre-theatre menu starting at $14 for those attending the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. Happy hour is 3:30 PM to 6 PM nightly.

Lunch promises stylish, energetic fare such as the flat iron steak salad, the woodfired pizzas, or the grilled wild salmon BLT. Dinner, however, makes it mark with the chilled seafood platter, the Charcuterie platter or the Artisan Cheese Platter followed by sumptuous seafood risotto, or Kentucky whiskey brined pork chops.

Kaiser Grill offers some unique, specialty drinks such as the Skinnies drink collection, all of which are under 200 calories each. Kaiser Classics are a set of Kaiser Grill’s version of classic cocktails such as the Daiquiri and the Moscow Mule. The Classic collection includes a late 19th century drink called the Corpse Reviver which contains Tempest Absinthe. The martinis include the Creamsicle and the Sunset made of Ciroc Berry Vodka, Cointreau, OJ and grenadine. Our favorite original specialty drink is the Spa-Fizz made with muddled fresh cucumber, Kah organic tequila, lime juice, organic agave nectar, cucumber vodka and a splash of soda. In addition to all of these libations, there is an extensive wine and beer selection.

Combine these excellent elements with a world class staff, a new private dining area, unobtrusive, soundless service and Kaiser Grille is poised for quiet dominion on Palm Canyon Drive.

Kaiser Grill
205 South Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.323.1003

Bellatrix at the Classic Club

KR — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:27:16 +0000

At World’s End… Bellatrix is in a class by itself, literally, located in the Classic Club, North of the I-10. Because of its unique location, the views are extraordinary and unlike any other restaurant in the valley. Granted, the winds can be gusty, but if you go on the right evening, the combined experience of libations, contemporary American cuisine, service and views, is unparalleled.

Arriving at twilight, we dined on the veranda overlooking the golf course, and in the distance, the Indio Hills backed up by the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Turn your sights from left to right and you get a view from the San Gorgonio Pass all the way to the beginning of the Chocolate Mountains to the South. Best of all, there is a distinct border where civilization ends and the desert wilderness begins, and that’s what makes its location so unique. Add a raspberry martini and to date, the best lemon drop martini we’ve had in the valley, as we watched the sun set in the pass, and it starts the beginning of a romantic, desert evening.

Beginning with warm rolls and butter, we enjoyed the Caesar salad and Bellatrix salad made of baby greens, tomatoes, red onion, ciabatta croutons, in a delicious, marinated feta and sherry Dijon vinaigrette.

We then had two incredible entrées, the first of which was top sirloin steak marinated in red wine with wild mushroom bread pudding, creamed spinach and truffle jus. The second entrée was the panko free range chicken breast with roasted portabello mushroom-parma ham risotto, caramelized shallots and chianti jus. Absolute perfection. The wine list is playfully classic, inventive and reasonable. We chose the 2006 Argyle Nuthouse Pinot Noir from the Williamette Valley. A real find…

Just before dessert, a meteor sped across the dark, night sky, capping the evening, until of course, the caramel cheesecake took the stage. Sinful. Absolutely sinful. No other word. So combine the cuisine, the service, the atmosphere and the view, and you’ve got Bellatrix, a unique, desert dining experience which is not to be missed. We highly suggest coming to Bellatrix during the three big meteor showers of the year, since the view is so dark and clear at night… The Leonids, associated with comet Tempel-Tuttle peak around November 17. The Geminids, caused by a probable Palladian asteroid, peak around December 14, and the Perseids, associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle, which peak in mid-August.

Bellatrix at the Classic Club
75200 Classic Club Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760.601.3600

Knott’s Soak City

KR — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:23:57 +0000

Water World… Knott’s Soak City is a perfect way to spend a summer day! Set among the palm trees, with the Santa Rosa Mountains enveloping the background, this waterpark offers plenty of attractions, activities like the Dive In Movie watched from Rip Tide Reef, and amenities to satisfy everyone from the speed seeking daredevil to the relaxing, Sunday river drifter, and everyone in between… here are some tips from our readers to enjoy the best rides on each of the attractions!

On Sunset River: To enjoy the most relaxing float, wear a hat to shade you from the sun. As they say, cooler heads prevail. On Undertow: Ask the lifeguard if you can go down backwards. Sea Snake: Put your hands up in front of your face since you can’t sit up on this slide, to prevent water from spraying in your face.

Grab your buddies and take on Pacific Spin, a two to four person raft ride that drops 60 feet into a 70 foot funnel. Have 4 people on the raft, as more weight gets you higher in the funnel. It’s also great to be the one who goes down backwards, but that’s the luck of the draw. On Pipeline: Try and follow the curve of the water with your body to rise a little higher on the sides of the slide as you turn. Surf Rider Rapids: Sit the heaviest person at the back, and put 3 people in the raft to get the best splashdown. Tidal Wave Tower: Cross your arms and legs, and make sure to flex the gluteus maximus muscles to help prevent a bathing suit “wedgie”.

On Rip Tide Reef: Bring an inner tube and swim out to where the waves break, so you can tube-surf to shore. At Kahuna’s Beach House: Wait for the bucket to drop to pull a prank on unsuspecting friends! In addition to its many attractions, Knott’s Soak City has 5 different Food and Beverage stations, all offering different meal and snack options. Hodad’s offers salads, sandwiches, burgers and more. We’ve heard the burgers rock. All American Dog House offers hot dogs with all the fixins’! We’ve heard the chili dogs are best. Surfin’ Chicken Open BBQ Grill: This is open select days and hours. Dip n’ Dots Sundae Shoppe: Dip n’ Dots specialties and ice cream novelties. The Dot Shakes rule. Big Island Yacht Club: For those 21 and older, A poolside bar featuring beer, wine and alcohol. Grab a drink and relax in the water! This is open select days and hours. Make sure to pick up a Knott’s Soak City t-shirt at Wipeout! Surf Shop, or airbrush a temporary tattoo on your arm at Wild Bill’s Airbrush Tattoos. You can also enjoy midway games like Pluck a Duck where every duck is a winner and Beachnik Basketball. Can you land a free throw like Kobe?

In addition to the water park, Knott’s Soak City has another fabulous attraction. The Fitness Point Health Club is a year round fitness center complete with exercise machines, weights, indoor/outdoor spa area featuring a heated pool, spa, dry sauna, and steam room. Towel service is available for a nominal charge. Classes are offered in yoga, Tai-Chi, water aerobics, Pilates, strength training and more, as well as several unique workshops throughout the year. Short term (one class) and long term (one year) passes are available with varying options. Check out the one year contract offerings and the corporate rates for the best deals.

Knott’s Soak City
1500 S. Gene Autry Trail
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.327.0499